BATTLE ROYALE ZERO

[DevilMan]

Just as Unconscious did with DOOM, I too had jumped on the geek-fanboy bandwagon and had started by own BATTLE ROYALE fan fiction story. I'll start posting alittle of it to see what some of you think.

Remember, this is intended to be read by people who are familiar with the overall BATTLE ROYALE story concept and it's odd universe. This particular story takes place before the events of the first movie and if you've read the original English translated novel, you'll instantly see how I've patterned my style of writing to it's own.

So, enjoy if you can, and be kind with any criticisms. Thanks.

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BATTLE ROYALE ZERO

PART 1: Chapter 1 - "HAJIRI"

32 Students Remaining...

Tetsuya ran out of the shack as best as he could and stopped over at the edge of the rocky slope. It stretched down for twenty feet or so at about a forty five degree angle. Below it was a large wheat field with small bushes scattered about. The field itself spread out well over a hundred feet in all directions. It was very open territory. Close to the center of the field was an old rusty farm tractor which looked like it hadn't worked in years. That's where Hajiri was hiding. Or at least that was where Tetsuya had hoped he'd still be.

Tetsuya had a hard time focusing and it was nearly impossible for him to see out of his left eye. There was a warm thick liquid running out from his scalp, down his forehead, and into his eye. It continued down the side of his face and dripped from his chin onto the front of his school jacket. He knew it was his own blood but he hadn't had the time to stop and check his wounds. His brother, Hajiri was in terrible trouble now. More so than just a few moments ago.

A few moments ago...

BANG! BANG! Tetsuya had heard the gunshots from his perch on the outskirts of the wheat field. In fact, the field was very similar to a small valley enclosed by the slopes on it's sides. He had worked his way over to get a better view when, in the middle of the field, he spotted Hajiri, his younger brother by a year. Hajiri seemed to have difficulty moving and shuffled in a strange choppy manner. The right pants leg of his tan school uniform was now colored dark red. He had been shot. Directly in front of Hajiri, up on the slope was an old weather beaten shack. It had two floors and Tetsuya could barely make out a figure in the darkened broken window of the second floor. He watched as the figure hunched forward, elbows on the window seal, and stuck something out of it, a long black metal gun barrel. Suddenly the end of the barrel ignited in a flash of fire and Tetsuya heard a BANG. It echoed across the wheat field. It was the exact same sound he had heard twice before arriving at the scene.

Hajiri's body jerked backwards as if someone had punched him in the shoulder. He fell to the ground. A few seconds later, a red spot appeared on his tan jacket, just below the left side of his neck. The spot grew larger and larger. Tetsuya was horrified. Someone was trying to kill his brother. Someone was actually playing this crazy "game". And that someone was in that shack. If Hajiri were to have any chance of surviving this encounter, Tetsuya knew that he had to stop that person. And soon. Because this entire valley was going to become a Danger Zone in less than fifteen minutes. He had even marked it on his map after the morning announcement.

Tetsuya scrambled from his hiding place and made a mad dash for the shack. He was coming up on it's side when he heard the all too familiar sound of a gunshot again. Then there was a metallic CLANG. The bullet must have hit something other than Hajiri. He quickly glanced over to the field and saw that his brother had climbed under the old tractor. Maybe it would provide enough cover for Hajiri until Tetsuya could do what he knew he had to do.

Tetsuya finally reached the shack. He darted around to the back and found a door. It wasn't locked so he quietly opened it and peered inside. It was alittle dark, more so than he had expected considering it was around noon. The shack was rather large on the inside and looked like it had been used as a storage facility for farm equipment. The dirty smell of dust and rusty metal was everywhere. No doubt, the field outside probably offered a nice supply of food to whoever owned it when it was in use. But now, it was ruined with age and neglect. Over to the left of the shack's main room, Tetsuya saw a large wooden ladder leading up to the next floor. It was really more like a loft than a secondary floor. Climbing up without being seen or making any noise would be hard indeed. BANG! Another gunshot rang out. Not in Tetsuya's direction as he had expected but out into the field again. It was followed by another CLANG. Hopefully Hajiri was still okay.

Tetsuya looked at his watch. It was the standard student issue time keeping device. It had an imitation leather band, a gold finish, and a glass face. It read eleven forty eight. Screw it! I'm running out of time!, Tetsuya thought to himself. He reached into his backpack and pulled out a large hammer shaped object. This was his government supplied weapon for the "game". It had a wooden handle, some 12 inches long, and attached to the end was a large rectangle blade. It was a meat cleaver, like you would see at a butcher's shop. He gripped the weapon in his right hand and sprinted towards the ladder. There was debris scattered all around the floor so it took some doing to avoid these objects while trying to stay silent. BANG! Another gunshot. But no clang sound this time. Hang on Hajiri! I'm coming!

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Anyway, if anyone's interested, there's plenty more to come. Want another post?

-Steve

[Raven]

wow that was great seriously man im not really a big reader but i deffinately want to read some more of that. nice job

btw, would this be the "game" that took place before the first film, just woundering because at the beginning of BR we see a TV program celebrating the last survivor of the previous game and we see a child covered in blood and a psychotic grin on their face.

[DevilMan]

Thanks for the compliments. Here's the continuation...


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Tetsuya grabbed the side of the ladder with his left hand. It seemed sturdy but age and decay had certainly taken it's toll on the wood. He started to climb up. It made a slight creaking sound. Dirt and dust fell from the steps above him. He continued to climb. He glanced upward and there, to his shock, he saw a head peaking from over the top floor, staring directly down at him. Even though there was a wild look to the person, Tetsuya instantly recognized the face. It was Hajiri's older schoolmate Kanada. Kanada was trying to kill his brother. Why?!

Tetsuya had met Kanada a few times even though they weren't in the same class at their high school. Kanada and Hajiri shared a common interest in model robots. They were both in the same Hobby Club at school. Tetsuya could remember hearing the pair ramble on for hours about what robot would win in a certain battle. They were serious otaku diehards savoring every aspect of anime and sci-fi manga. But now, Kanada was shooting a REAL gun at his friend. It was all just too insane.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" Tetsuya shouted up.

Staring upwards with a dazed expression on his face, Tetsuya knew that he had really been caught off guard when Kanada had spotted him climbing up with the cleaver in hand. Kanada didn't say a word, only leaned forward alittle to possibly get a better view and pointed the black barrel down in Tetsuya's direction. He could clearly make out what Kanada was holding now. It was a hunting rifle of some sort with a wooden stock and a black metal barrel. Instinctively fearing for his life, Tetsuya did the only thing he could, he threw the cleaver upwards at Kanada. It struck the side of the rifle. BANG! Kanada's finger must have pulled the trigger in reflex as the cleaver hit. The shot went harmlessly over Tetsuya's shoulder followed by the rifle itself. Kanada must have dropped it when the cleaver impacted on it's side. Tetsuya saw him disappear from view and heard scrambled footsides on the floor above.

As Tetsuya reached the top and prepared to climb off the ladder, he quickly looked around. Kanada suddenly appeared again with a large iron gravel rake in his hands, something he must have found in the shack earlier. Tetsuya raised his hand to protect his face as Kanada swung it down, hitting Tetsuya on the top of the head. A blinding razor hot pain shot through his entire skull. The pain then turned into a tingling sensation. Tears started to well up in his eyes. He could instantly tell that his head was starting to feel warm and wet. He could barely maintain his grip on the ladder and just managed to focus his vision when he saw Kanada rear back to take another swing. This is it! Tetsuya thought.

But as Kanada stepped back to get the perfect footing for the killing blow, the old floor planks underneath his feet gave way. He struggled to maintain his balance by thrusting his body forward but since both of his hands were above his head holding the rake, there was nothing for him to grab onto to stabilize himself. He fell forward, over the edge, and over Tetsuya, nearly knocking him off as well. Of course, it wouldn't have taken much of a push considering Tetsuya's current condition. Kanada made a short girlish scream and then there was a moist, almost pleasant SPLUNK sound as if a heavy wet sack had fallen from a great distance.

Tetsuya climbed up and rolled over onto the floor, avoiding the broken area, and looked down over the side. Kanada's body lay there at the bottom, some fifteen feet below. His body was laid out in an odd position that looked as if you'd taken a doll and thrown it to the ground. Tetsuya tried to determine whether or not Kanada was still alive and posed any kind of threat but when he noticed that the metal tongs of the rake were sticking out from the front of Kanada's neck right above the shiney collar that the government had so kindly provided for this "game", he knew it was over. Kanada had somehow fallen on the rake. Kanada made a soft gurgling sound and then went quiet. Blood started to pool up around his head and it made a strange yet familiar design on the dirty wooden floor. It looked like one of those anime show explosions he'd seen Hajiri and Kanada debate about after watching them on their favorite weekly sci-fi television show.

Tetsuya sat there for a moment, trying to regain his senses. He had a hard time breathing and the explosive government collar around his neck didn't help matters either. It was alittle too tight. Then he remembered his brother, and the Danger Zone. He raised up, turned around, and started back down the ladder. About half way, his head started to spin, his vision narrowed, and he lost his footing. Tumbling backwards, he slammed into floor, nearly knocking the breath from him. He looked to the left, then to his right. There was Kanada laying next to him. His eyes were wide open but they weren't like anything Tetsuya had ever seen before. They had an alien-like appearance to them, glazed and filmy and staring straight upward as if he could see some invisible object that no one else could. Dark red foam oozed from the corners of his mouth and now Tetsuya saw a close-up of the rake's teeth that had forced their way up through Kanada's flesh. It was a scene right out of a horror movie, pure and simple.

He gingerly got back to his feet and made his way as fast as he could to the front door of the shack. He jerked the door open and called out for Hajiri. There was no reply. He ran out of the shack and over to the edge of the slope. He tried his best to focus in on the tractor. He called for Hajiri again.

"HAJIRI! It's me, Tetsuya! Are you there?! This whole valley's about to become a Danger Zone! Hajiri! Are you okay?!"

Hajiri slowly crawled out from under the tractor and awkwardly stood up. He looked over to his brother standing on the far slope. He was a good thirty feet away. He glanced down at his right pants leg which was now soaked in blood. He'd even lost alittle feeling in that leg too. Whoever the shooter was, he had got him right in the soft area on the inside of his hip with the first shot. The second shot that connected was in the upper left side of chest, thankfully missing the explosive collar that he wore around his neck. He remembered that bastard of a teacher telling them that severely hard blows to the collar might cause them to detonate accidentally and, as he put it, "That would make for a rather unpleasant day, wouldn't it?", that son of a bitch. But even though the chest shot hadn't hit the collar, Hajiri knew that it was the most painful thing he had ever felt. His entire chest and stomache was now drenched wet with blood and a cold sensation had already settled over his whole body. As he thought of this, his mind began to race with thoughts of panic and despair. Am I going to die? Is this how it feels before you die? He called out to his brother.

"Tetsuya! I'm shot pretty bad. I don't know... I don't know if I'm going to make it."

Tetsuya quickly looked down at his watch with his one good eye to check the time. I'll go get him and carry him back. Tetsuya thought. According to the map, the slope here was in a completely different zone and the valley Danger Zone would go hot at twelve pm. And it was already... Tetsuya gasped. His watch was cracked and the seconds hand dangled lifelessly, swaying back and forth as he tilted his wrist. The hour and minute hands were stuck at eleven fifty three. The watch must have broken when he fell from the ladder. Or did it get hit with the rake? He didn't know. So what time was it now? Tetsuya couldn't really make an intelligent guess.

"Hold on, Hajiri! I'm on my way!"

As Tetsuya began to step off the top of the slope, he heard a faint BREEP BREEP sound coming from Hajiri's direction. It was like the sound of an electronic alarm clock going off while you were still asleep, that muffled electric beep that you try to tune out but can't. Tetsuya looked up in fear at his brother and heard another sound, but it was much louder this time. It was a crisp POP. The kind of pop a large firecracker makes. One of those firecrackers that you buy but you're too afraid to light while holding it so you sit it on the ground, light it, and back away from. As for whether or not Hajiri heard this same sound, it'll never be known because at that same time, his collar exploded, ripping away most of his neck and the lower parts of his jaw. The upper portion of his mouth, the gums and teeth were now exposed and from a distance, he looked as if he were wearing some of those fake Halloween monster teeth you could buy at a party store. A huge misty spray of blood, shattered teeth, and fleshy bits puffed up into the air. Tetsuya saw his brother's feet almost leap off the ground from the explosion. His body danced around for a moment twitching, similar to a puppet as if it were having it's strings cut. Hajiri finally fell forward and collapsed to the ground. There was no further motion.

"NOOOOOOOOO!" Tetsuya screamed!

BREEP! BREEP!

Tetsuya's eyes snapped open as he heard his alarm clock go off. He was sweating and slightly panting. The dream. Or better still, the nightmare. He'd been having this same nightmarish dream for nearly two years now, ever since his younger brother Hajiri had died in that particular year's "Program". He himself, hadn't actually been in the "game" but the report brought to his family afterwards stated that Hajiri had died on the island via "collar detonation", and described as a "Danger Zone fatality". The bastards always made it sound so simple, so cut and dry, so matter of factly. Maybe they'd act differently if one of their children were in their beloved "game" instead of some stranger's son or daughter. Yeah, how would you act then, Mr. high and mighty smug government official?!

Tetsuya was rattled, as he always was after the dream, but he'd learned to quickly shake it off. He needed to today because today was THE DAY. Today was the graduation ceremony walk-through which would prepare his class for their final graduation from high school next week. And once that happened, no more chances of being selected for the "Program". College students were exempt by law. Well, that's even if he had planned to go to college in the first place. No, after graduation, he wanted to work half the summer in his uncle's cloth dye factory. It wouldn't be a great job but he needed to earn enough money so that he could spend the last half of the summer traveling to the Sagimatsu Mountain range. Hajiri had always wanted to hike that area and they had even arranged to do just that when he graduated. But, of course, the "Program" happened and that all came to an end. But Tetsuya knew that if he could go there at least once, Hajiri would be with him in spirit and that's as close as he thought he could get his brother to their vacation spot.

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Well, that's it for Part 1 of Chapter 1. So far, so good?

-Steve

[DevilMan]

Originally posted by raventt@Jan 30 2005, 02:22 AM
btw, would this be the "game" that took place before the first film, just woundering because at the beginning of BR we see a TV program celebrating the last survivor of the previous game and we see a child covered in blood and a psychotic grin on their face.

Actually, I'm kinda contradicting myself with the title of BATTLE ROYALE ZERO since this story isn't going to be the first game ever played. It's more like the third or forth game but still several games before the events that transpire in the live action movie (and the novel). However, unlike the movie and novel, there would actually be a sole survivor so that's something new right there, ya know. And hopefully, that's what will keep the reader's attention. Yes, to some it might seem like a rehash, but just knowing that everyone's going to die except one student, you can simply kick back and enjoy the creative deaths that I'm gonna cook up. And who's to say that Tetsuya will even be the winner because he seems to be the main star. Don't take anything for granted in my BATTLE ROYALE universe.

But that's gonna be it for the story for the time being. I haven't finished the second part of chapter one yet. And it'll be named "DAY OF DAYS" (a homage to the WW2 airborne drops over Normandy) and would tell alittle more about Tetsuya as he races off to school that morning and meeting up with his friends. It would be a Saturday morning and his class would go into the auditorium for their ceremony preperations. As they would enter, they notice that they were the ONLY class there in attendance, not with the 5 or 6 classes that were scheduled to also attend. They know something's wrong now. A single person would be standing at the far end of the building on the speaking platform. He would announce himself and tell them to sit down. Suddenly government soldiers would pour in from the side doors surrounding the class and force the students to take their seats by class number and put on the collars that are already in their chairs. He would then start to explain that they were the lucky class selected for the BATTLE ROYALE. As expected, a little chaos ensues with a student or two dying before they're finally loaded aboard an army bus and driven to the "park". Chapter two "THE GAME BEGINS" goes from there.

I'd like to put this BR game in a large fenced in or walled up "park" type of place instead of an island, kinda like Central Park in New York. I'd like to have 32 students instead of the regular 40-something because it's hard enough to come up with Japanese names, not to mention, giving them all different personalities. And come up with nifty ways for them to kill each other too. I want to throw in a few class surprises like a pair of American "foreign exchange" students, a handicapped girl (heh, heh), and two brothers who will eventually turn on each other. There will also be two students who dropped out of school early because they had a "bad" feeling that their class might get selected that year. Of course, the government would round them up and they would be brought into the auditorium against their will to play the "game". Well, one would be brought in, all beat up and the other would come wheeled in, dead inside a body bag for everyone to see. Of course, the teacher would have something snappy to say to the class like "Ah, and I bet you all thought that you'd never see your former classmates, the dropouts again. Skipping class is no excuse. Education is a priviledge, you rascals you, and it's a gift I most enjoy giving to the younger generation. Now take your seat, young man and we'll get back to today's important lesson. Remember, teacher always knows best."

Anyway, please let me know what you all think and if there's any changes that you think can be made for the better from what you've read so far, I'll work 'em out.

-Steve

[small_but_deadly]

I am thoroughly enjoying reading your story so far and i love the twist of the nightmare. Very well written i look forward to reading the next chapter.

[Raven]

i cant wait for the next lot DM this is great reading.

[Unconscious]

Nice read, some of you ought to comment on my introduction to Doomed... It's a thread somewhere in this section.

I couldn't read all of your fanfiction, as I am ill, and have a terrible headache...

[Raven]

I'd like to put this BR game in a large fenced in or walled up "park" type of place instead of an island, kinda like Central Park in New York

I like that twist kind gives the same sense of being trapped but a claustrophobic feel at the same time. I like the fence thing too, would it be electrified?

[DevilMan]

Originally posted by raventt+Jan 30 2005, 04:50 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (raventt @ Jan 30 2005, 04:50 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>i cant wait for the next lot DM this is great reading.[/b]

<!--QuoteBegin-small_but_deadly@Jan 30 2005, 11:06 AM
I am thoroughly enjoying reading your story so far and i love the twist of the nightmare. Very well written i look forward to reading the next chapter.[/quote]
Thank you. Thank you.

-Steve

[DevilMan]

Originally posted by raventt@Jan 30 2005, 05:26 PM

I like that twist kind gives the same sense of being trapped but a claustrophobic feel at the same time. I like the fence thing too, would it be electrified?

No, I hadn't planned for the fence to be electrified itself. However, what prevents the contestants from leaving the park area then? Well, it's the explosive collars around their necks. They're all gonna have a setting where the outside perimeter of the fence is always a "Danger Zone". Meaning, if they crawl over, under, or break through the fence, the collars go off and that's that, they're history. That also makes it easy for the government soldiers to keep control of the situation. The students will all be told this at the start of the game too.

Also, about the fence, it'll be roughly twelve feet high and it'll be made of heavy chainlink. Yet, it's not a solid structure and in theory, stray bullets can fly outta the playing field of the park (through the fence's links) and into the surrounding local. I'll probably have a bystander walking by get plugged by accident. Or a pack of onlookers standing too close to the outside fence will get mowed down by an exchange of fire from within the park.

Neat, huh?!

-Steve

[Raven]

man thats awesome, would there br a "punishment" for the culprit who kills the bystanders or is it going to be just a recklous idea on the BR creators part?

[DevilMan]

Originally posted by raventt@Jan 30 2005, 06:12 PM
...would there br a "punishment" for the culprit who kills the bystanders or is it going to be just a recklous idea on the BR creators part?

Hmmm, I hadn't really thought about that.

Probably, it'll be "Onlooker Beware" in most cases. That's the wacky dark humor of the BATTLE ROYALE universe, ya know. I mean, if a person is crazy enough to get that close to the fence to see what's happening inside, it'll be completely that person's fault if they get harmed in some way. Maybe signs can be posted on the fence stating that anyone close enough to read it from the outside area is placing theirselves in danger.

But, in case a student intentionally starts firing out of the park area into the civilian sector, the government soldiers (and teacher) controlling the game have the option to instantly detonate the student's collar right away. Again, I'll have it where the students know all this before entering the park.

But that's a good question. Thanks for bringing it up.

-Steve

[DevilMan]

Well, I decided to skip ahead to Chapter two. Here's the first part of THE GAME BEGINS...

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BATTLE ROYALE ZERO

CHAPTER TWO: Part One - "THE GAME BEGINS"

30 Students Remaining...

As they approached the "playing field", they could now all see the rows of military vehicles lining the street leading to Ginzu Park. Soldiers brandishing a variety of handheld weapons stood at attention as their bus rumbled past. To some students, this day's previous events had almost seemed like a bad dream but upon seeing this unsettling image, it instantly became all too real. Yes, this was the real deal alright. This was the dreaded "game" they had all feared for years.

Tetsuya shifted to a more upright position in his seat. All he could do was simply stare out of the window in complete silence and shock. He could hear muffled sobs coming from some of his female classmates sitting behind him but the thought of trying to console them was now a distant luxury. His only desire was to keep his own composure and look after himself and his two closest friends, Tomoko and Shinji.

"Tetsuya..."

Tomoko's voice was shakey and she sounded as if she would burst into tears at any moment. Tetsuya turned to look at her.

"Yeah, Tomoko?", Tetsuya asked.

"What happens if we can't find each other? I mean, I know Megumi and Chisato but there's some here that I'm really afraid of, and what they might do."

Tetsuya could feel the color rush from his face. Even though they had been the chosen class for this year's "game", the idea that some of his classmates he'd known for the past two years would try to kill him, or Tomoko, or Shinji, hadn't yet crossed his mind. He looked at Tomoko and stuttered...

"Um, no, no. I just can't believe that anyone would do anything like that. We all know each other. That's got to count for something. Maybe there's some... way out of all this? If.. if we work together or something."

Tetsuya certainly didn't want to appear as rattled as he felt, so an impromptu seemingly reassuring statement like that might satisfy Tomoko's curiosity about their situation. Or at least he hoped it would. He had a hard time believing it himself. But slipping into desperation or panic about what MIGHT happen wasn't the best thought to dwell on at this particular moment. Tomoko smiled as best she could. She knew Tetsuya was trying his hardest to comfort her, even if he was telling her a lie.

Shinji, sitting to the right of the pair was still staring into the street at the ongoing spectacle. He repeatedly ran his finger between the explosive government collar and the skin of his neck. He had been listening to his two friends talk. Once a pause in their converstaion presented itself, he mumbled something to himself, and turned to face the two. He cocked his head slightly to the side and said...

"I hope you're right, Tetsuya. But in case you're wrong, we gotta come up with some kinda plan. What if..."

Shinji paused and looked right at Tetsuya with an odd look to his face. It's as if he'd suddenly had some divine revelation that would set them all free from this terrible ordeal.

"Tetsuya! You remember that old shed in the far corner of the park, don't do? If we get seperated, let's try to meet up there. Tomo, you do the same, okay?"

Tetsuya knew what Shinji was refering to. They had actually been to Ginzu Park once before. It was nearly a year ago that they had been jogging through the park and came across the old maintenance shed. It wasn't anything really special, a single story one room wooden shack but it might offer a possible refuge from danger if things spiraled out of control during the "game". Tomoko looked at Shinji and then at Tetsuya. She hadn't ever been to the park before so this suggestion didn't offer as much solace as it did for Tetsuya. If they did get seperated, she wouldn't know how to find the shed anyway. Hopefully, it would be marked on the map that they had promised everyone would receive before the "game" started.

"Yeah, that sounds good. Tomoko, you okay with that?", Tetsuya asked.

But as he awaited her response, a motion in the rear of the bus drew his attention away. Sitting three rows behind them, someone was quietly laughing. LAUGHING?! How could someone laugh at a time like this? But they were. It was Shosuke. He was staring out through the window of the bus at the insane parade of military men and machines, laughing to himself. Ya know, why doesn't that surprise me?, Tetsuya thought to himself.

Shosuke Kanno (boy, student #17). He was often called Sho by the few who he talked to. Even though Tetsuya had been in the same class as Shosuke for the past two years, he couldn't remember a single instance when the two had actually spoken to one another. Shosuke usually kept to himself but on the occassion that social interaction was required, he'd opt to mingle with the trio of so-called "class toughs". And they didn't seem to mind because Shosuke always presented himself in such a malevolently puzzling manner that no one ever wanted to challenge him even though he wasn't nearly as staunch as the other three boys in that gang of trouble makers. He was fairly tall, alittle on the lean side but still appeared quite muscular for his body style. He had short black spiked hair with heavy blonde frosting. A pretty boy, no, but certainly not an unattractive guy either. However, his somber and cheerless attitude for the most part kept just about everyone at arm's reach. Except for maybe one, Rena Tahara, the classroom's "punk rocker".

Rena Tahara (girl, student #22). Everyone knew she had a crush on Shosuke. Heck, even he knew it but as far as everyone could tell, he had never pursued a relationship with the girl. She was a self proclaimed individualist, that "punk rock chick" as most of the class called her. She wasn't an outcast but the more popular cliques shunned people like her. She had amber colored hair and exceptionally pale skin in which she decorated with massive amounts of dark eye liner. As often as she could, she'd silently rebel against the school's dress code by wearing a spiked bracelet or studded wristband with her standard issue sailor suit uniform. And she'd almost never be seen without her trusty cd-player. Strange music could be heard emitting from her headphones at any given time.

"Tetsuya?", Tomoko asked. She placed her hand on his shoulder to attract his attention.

"Uh, sorry. It was just...", Tetsuya was about to turn back to his friends when he noticed that Shosuke had stopped laughing and was no longer looking out of the window. He was instead, staring directly at Tetsuya with an expressionless look on his face. Tetsuya quickly felt uneasy and wanted to break eye contact as soon as he could but it was Shinji who made the next move, and probably not a wise one at that.

"What the hell are you staring at?!", he called out in Shosuke's direction.

Shosuke didn't respond. Or rather, he didn't respond with spoken words. He simply formed a grin. A grin that perhaps only Satan, basking on his infernal fiery throne in the underworld could conjure up. It was a chilling sight. Shosuke then followed through with an equally horrific hand gesture. He held out his right hand in Tetsuya and Shinji's direction, thumb raised, index finger straight forward, the lower three fingers curled together. Tetsuya thought it looked as if he was holding some invisible handgun, pointing it towards them. Shosuke's next action confirmed this. He leaned his head sideways towards his outstretched hand, closed his left eye so that his right was looking over his extended thumb, and he curled his index finger into his hand. He was pulling the invisible trigger on his invisible gun. At them! Tetsuya was flabbergasted. He felt as if he had even been hit with an invisible bullet. Shinji was also wide eyed. He then knetted his brow.

"I knew it. He's totally fucking crazy!", Shinji said outloud to Tetsuya. After such a bold and loud defamatory remark, if they hadn't been before, most of the rest of the class were now fixated on what was transpiring.

"Shinji! Tetsuya.", Tomoko interupted the growing tension between the three boys. She had noticed that the bus driver was now looking at all four of them through the front mirror of his windshield. She remembered the "teacher" telling them that distruptive behavior during the ride to the park would not be tolerated, and anyone engaging in such activities would be severly "punished". Of course, he never elaborated on the "punishment" part but after the senseless death of Yukata back at the school's auditorium, you simply had to expect the absolute worse from him, and the government soldiers.

Tomoko pulled her two friends by their arms back into a more appropriate seating posture and asked them to stay silent for the time being. She clutched at the government collar around her neck. The driver, seeming satisfied that the concurrence was now over, turned his eyes back to the road.

"I hope we don't ever have to run into Shosuke out there.", Tetsuya whispered to Shinji.

"Hmmmm...", was his only reply. Shinji was preoccupied looking out through the window. The tall heavy chain link fence that surrounded the park was now in sight.

--------------------


More to come...

-Steve

[Raven]

wow thats all i can really say DM. Im already starting to feel for the characters, the "atmosphere" that you described on the bus, made me actually wounder how awful that presure must be, people you've known for a long time trying to kill you. Thats got to be one of the worst situations ever. Great stuff DM kepp it up.

[Unconscious]

You should become a author.